By Sharon Callen
As teachers, we understand the importance of setting the tone for a productive, inspiring school year. Creating a literacy-rich environment isn't just about the aesthetics of your classroom—it's about equipping students with the strategies/ tools they need to explore, create, and grow. In this blog, I'll introduce five foundational strategies that can transform your literacy teaching: Classroom Libraries, Reading Journals, Quick Writes, Writer's Notebooks, and Word Walls. These tools aren't just for organisation—they nurture curiosity, empower students, and create habits that will last a lifetime.
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Classroom Libraries: Building a Love for Reading
A vibrant, well-stocked classroom library is the heart of any literacy classroom. It's more than just shelves of books—it's a hub of excitement, exploration, and connection. Research shows that students with access to classroom libraries read 50% more than their peers without one. This isn't surprising. A great library invites students to dive into stories, expand their imaginations, and discover new interests.
How to Create an Engaging Library
- Offer Variety: Include a diverse selection of genres, topics, and formats. Culturally rich stories, graphic novels, and captivating non-fiction texts ensure that there's something for every reader.
- Prioritise Quality: Seek out "tantalising texts"—books that students can't wait to pick up and won't want to put down.
- Design a Cosy Space: Arrange books attractively and create an inviting area where students feel encouraged to browse and linger.
Pro Tip: Use the library as more than just a space for independent reading. Incorporate it into read-alouds, group discussions, and literature circles.
For inspiration, check out our podcast on classroom libraries:
A video of Year 6–7 students sharing their love for their library. Watching their enthusiasm will remind you of the power a library has to transform learning.
- Video: Growing a Classroom Library – Nairne Primary School
- Resources: Reading > Classroom Libraries
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Reading Journals: Capturing the Journey
A Reading Journal is like a record of a student's growth as a reader. It's a personal, creative space where students can document their thoughts, track progress, and reflect on their reading experiences.
What to Include in a Reading Journal
- Reading Calendars: Simple entries to track books read, dates, and progress.
- Conferring Notes:
- Reflections and Goals: Encourage students to think about what they've learned and set aspirations for their reading journey.
- Reader Surveys: Prompts like "What kinds of stories do you love?" help students discover their reading identity.
- Literature Responses: Students can draw scenes, write about favourite characters, or imagine alternate endings to stories.
Why It Matters
Reading Journals motivate students by giving them a sense of ownership and pride in their progress. They also offer teachers valuable insights into students' preferences and challenges.
Pro Tip: Tailor the format to the age group. Younger students might prefer colourful scrapbooks, while older students may opt for sleek art diaries or exercise books.
Check out Teachific for prompts, templates, and strategies for implementing Reading Journals effectively. Don't miss the podcast episode The Hidden Power of Reading Journals.
- Podcast: Hidden Power of Reading Journals ep 89
- Resources: Reading Journals by Grade
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Quick Writes: Sparking Creativity
Quick Writes are a simple yet transformative activity for building writing fluency, creativity, and confidence. In just 5–10 minutes, students can unlock their imagination and develop a habit of writing without fear of making mistakes.
How to Use Quick Writes
- Set the Timer: Keep it short—between 5 and 10 minutes.
- Provide a Prompt: Prompts can range from playful to thought-provoking.
- Celebrate Effort: Focus on idea generation, not perfection.
Why Quick Writes Work
They create a low-pressure environment for reluctant writers and help all students develop stamina for longer pieces. Over time, these exercises produce a wealth of ideas that students can revisit and expand.
On Teachific, you'll find prompts and strategies to make Quick Writes an engaging and integral part of your routine.
- Podcasts: Quick Writes for Quick Results Ep 39, Quick Writes Using Mentor Texts Ep 72
- Resources: Writing > Quick Writes
- Video: Planning for the Literacy Block – Kaurna Plains School
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The Writer's Notebook: A Home for Writing
A Writer's Notebook is a dedicated space for students to cultivate their writing craft. It's where their ideas, experiments, and revisions live. Unlike loose sheets that get misplaced, a notebook provides structure and permanence, making it an essential tool for every writer.
Why the Writer's Notebook Matters
- Space to Revise: Encourage students to write on the right-hand page and leave the left-hand page blank. This creates room for revision, brainstorming, and reflection as they revisit their work.
- Using Margins: Teach students to use margins for quick notes and self-editing. This habit reinforces that writing is a dynamic, evolving process.
- Frequent Publishing: Writing is meant to be shared! Publishing regularly—weekly, if possible—gives students confidence and a sense of purpose.
A Tool for All Grades
Alan Wright's course, The Write Stuff: Writer's Notebook, offers step-by-step guidance for setting up this essential resource. Starting the year with a Writer's Notebook lays the foundation for meaningful, consistent writing practices.
- Course: The Write Stuff: Writer's Notebook with Alan Wright
- Podcast: Teaching Writing Effectively with Alan Wright Ep 62
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Word Walls: Anchoring Language in the Classroom
Alphabetical word walls are an essential tool, especially for younger learners. They provide a visible, organised way for students to access vocabulary, reinforcing their spelling, writing, and reading independence.
How to Make Word Walls Work
- Start with Alphabetical Organisation: Words don't have to be strictly sorted, but having an alphabetical anchor helps students locate them quickly.
- Class Word Walls vs. Personal Word Walls:
- For Foundation to Year 1, a class word wall is invaluable. It can include high-frequency words, vocabulary from current topics, or student-suggested "words we love."
- From Year 2 onward, personal word walls give students ownership over their vocabulary.
Tips for Success
- Dedicate space for the word wall early in the year, ensuring it's accessible and central to your classroom setup.
- For personal word walls, Teachific offers video guides and templates to help you set them up effectively.
Explore Teachific's resources under the Spelling category for detailed guidance and printable tools.
- Resources: Spelling > Word Walls or Word Walls-Personal
- Course: Personal Word Walls
Why These Tools Are Game-Changers
These strategies/tools—Classroom Libraries, Reading Journals, Quick Writes, Writer's Notebooks, and Word Walls—are more than just instructional aids. They form the backbone of a supportive and inspiring literacy classroom. Teachers who use them consistently report noticeable improvements in student engagement, confidence, and academic outcomes.
A Year of Joyful Learning
These strategies (and four more in the Part 2 of the podcast) create an environment where students can explore their creativity, develop critical literacy skills, and grow a lifelong love for language. By introducing these tools at the start of the year and embedding them into daily routines, teachers can ensure that 2025 is a year of purpose and joy in the classroom.
What's been your experience with these tools? Share your insights in the comments, and let's inspire each other to make literacy teaching even better!